Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur has insisted the Eagles need to be able to grind out results following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Tottenham.

Alan Pardew’s side have enjoyed a productive start to the new season, having already recorded three victories while also falling to narrow defeats to Arsenal and Manchester City.

But the performance against Spurs, in which the visitors spurred several opportunities, proved the club must develop a habit of nicking results in tight games, according to Scotland international McArthur.

“It was small margins really, but I don’t think we did enough to win the game,” the 27-year-old said.

“When it’s small margins then we need to try and nick the game.

“We hit the post twice, we had chances but when we don’t play as well as we can, we need to try and grind a result out, have a clean sheet and take a 0-0.”

Summer signing Son Heung-min secured the home win for Spurs with his third goal in two games shortly after the hour mark.

And McArthur admitted Tottenham deserved the three points while highlighting the defensive performance as a positive to take from the outing.

“Spurs were good,” he added.

“I didn’t think it was like us, we didn’t perform as well as we can.

“I thought all of Spurs’ players were good, they deserved it more than us, but we need to try and make it right now.

“I felt our defence was excellent.

“Brede Hangeland stepped in and Damien Delaney came back in after an injury.

“They did well to limit Spurs’ chances when they had so much possession of the ball.”

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